41 Years in an unheated shed

Good result but not finished yet, no machines used yet.

Anything to worry about here on the clutch?

Thought I would give you an update on where I am at the moment.

The bike is totally stripped and at the painters who are in Uxbridge, my attempts at painting it myself were in a word a disaster, enough said other than it drove me mad. The side stand has been replaced, and new bolt and nuts purchased and all fits as it should. Not so the center stand which had lost a top hat spacer and over time the hole had gone oval in the cradle. The cradle was also badly worn where the center stand meets it, so all welded up now fitted and doing what it should. The swing arm was a real pain to remove as it had seized in the bushes and corroded, but encouraged to move with heat and a hammer. Having checked the bushes and cradle for wear and bought a new standard size pin which luckily fits perfect with no play, I did buy the complete kit with bushes but was told later that the bushes are very tough and rarely wear which seems to be the case.

Whilst getting the bike ready for the painters I took off the front isolastic engine mount, I have already bought the verner replacement for this so knocked out the original which was full rust as can be seen in the pictures. Also I had the mother of all jobs to remove the lower front steering bearing to the point of destroying it and the top one. Any tips for refitting. My thoughts are to warm the frame and have the bearings in the freezer and drive them home with a correct size box spanner, then heat the lot and put the yoke in the freezer before driving that home, and ensuring the wife is out.

The barrels were checked for wear and were on the limit so have been rebored, with new pistons, I have yet to fit the rings, any tips on this welcome. The original rings were locked solid in the grooves, but not though heat and did eventually free off.

I have just stripped down the forks today ready for new staunchions, seals and bushes which I thought would be tricky but followed an old write up of Mick Hemmings and all went according to plan. Have to say I have always avoided forks but they are not as tricky as I thought they would be. I did have to return a set of staunchions because they were not the bright chrome that I wanted.

I took the wheels to a private wheel builder also in Uxbridge who measured the off set for the front and back wheels before I cut out the hubs to get them cleaned and polished, which the painter wanted to do for £30 for the two.

I bought a load of parts off the NOC shop which are very competitive on price and turned up within the week even though they want a couple of weeks delivery.

I have been buying my parts from Andover, RGM, and Norvil all of which have been very helpful, and great on advice.

So now it is a case of waiting a few weeks for the painters to return the frame and then onto all the little bits which will take the time.

My 850 does not have a base gasket which I am uncomfortable with, I assume I can fit one as it seems to be a weak point to me?

Front Isolastic mount original

The swing arm pin note the corrosion

Finally some of the grease and corrosion that was not on view.